भैरव
Auspicious on: Bhairava Ashtami · Kalashtami
Fierce form of Shiva. Kshetrapala - guardian of every kshetra.
Common forms worshipped
Kala Bhairava · Asitanga · Ruru · Chanda · Krodha · Unmatta · Kapali · Bhishana · Samhara · Batuk Bhairava · Swarna Akarshana Bhairava
Chant these mantras, then deepen your devotion by offering a verified seva at a Bhairava temple.
Offer a Bhairava seva →काल भैरव बीज मन्त्र
Form: Kala BhairavaThe supreme bija of Kala Bhairava - Kshetrapalaka of Kashi, guardian of all timings.
ॐ ह्रीं बं बटुकाय आपदुद्धारणाय कुरु कुरु बटुकाय ह्रीं ॐ नमः शिवाय॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaकालभैरवाष्टकम् (आरम्भ)
Form: Kala BhairavaAdi Shankaracharya's 8-verse hymn to Kala Bhairava of Kashi. Recited on Bhairava Ashtami.
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम्। नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaअसिताङ्ग भैरव मन्त्र
Form: AsitangaFirst of the Ashta Bhairavas. Dark-bodied. Worshipped for creativity and overcoming the limits of mind.
ॐ असिताङ्गभैरवाय नमः॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaरुरु भैरव मन्त्र
Form: RuruSecond Ashta Bhairava. White-hued. Worshipped for relief from grave illness and dharmic adversaries.
ॐ रुरुभैरवाय नमः॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaचण्ड भैरव मन्त्र
Form: ChandaThird Ashta Bhairava. Fierce. Worshipped to destroy fierce enemies and persistent dark obstacles.
ॐ चण्डभैरवाय नमः॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaक्रोध भैरव मन्त्र
Form: KrodhaFourth Ashta Bhairava. The wrath form. Worshipped to convert one's own anger into transformative power.
ॐ क्रोधभैरवाय नमः॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaउन्मत्त भैरव मन्त्र
Form: UnmattaFifth Ashta Bhairava. The mad form - beyond convention. Worshipped to dissolve mental clinging and bondage to opinion.
ॐ उन्मत्तभैरवाय नमः॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaकपाली भैरव मन्त्र
Form: KapaliSixth Ashta Bhairava. The skull-bearer. Worshipped for the cutting of attachment and the realisation that the body is a temporary vessel.
ॐ कपालीभैरवाय नमः॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaभीषण भैरव मन्त्र
Form: BhishanaSeventh Ashta Bhairava. The terrifying form. Worshipped for removal of fear by encountering the source of fear itself.
ॐ भीषणभैरवाय नमः॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaसंहार भैरव मन्त्र
Form: SamharaEighth Ashta Bhairava. The dissolver. Worshipped at the close of yagnas to dissolve all impurities.
ॐ संहारभैरवाय नमः॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaअष्ट भैरव संक्षेप
Form: Kala BhairavaThe classical roll-call of the eight Bhairavas, recited at the start of Bhairava puja.
असिताङ्गो रुरुश्चैव चण्डक्रोधावुन्मत्तकः। कपाली भीषणश्चैव संहारश्चाष्टभैरवाः॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaकाल भैरव गायत्री
The Gayatri of Kala Bhairava, following the standard "vidmahe / dhimahi / prachodayat" pattern; meditated upon for his fierce protective grace and mastery over time and fear.
ॐ कालकालाय विद्महे कालातीताय धीमहि। तन्नो काल भैरवः प्रचोदयात्॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaबटुक भैरव गायत्री
The Gayatri of Batuka Bhairava - the youthful, benign boy-form of Bhairava worshipped for protection from calamity (apad-uddharana). Distinct from the general Kala Bhairava Gayatri.
ॐ बटुकाय विद्महे क्षेत्रपालाय धीमहि। तन्नो भैरवः प्रचोदयात्॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaकाल भैरव ध्यान श्लोक - श्यामाङ्गं
A classical meditation verse of Kala Bhairava - dark-bodied and fierce, three-eyed, holding trident, drum, noose and skull, naked and serpent-adorned, his dog beside him. Recited before Bhairava worship to fix his form in the mind.
श्यामाङ्गं शशिशेखरं त्रिनयनं पाशाङ्कुशाभीतिदं शूलं डमरुकं कपालमनलं शुम्भं करैर्बिभ्रतम्। नागं यज्ञोपवीतमुरगैः श्वानं समारुह्य तं वन्दे भैरवमीशमादिपुरुषं दिग्वाससं भूषणम्॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaकालभैरवाष्टकम् - द्वितीय श्लोक (भानुकोटिभास्वरम्)
The second verse of Adi Shankaracharya’s Kala Bhairava Ashtakam (the companion to verse 1 already in the library) - praising the Lord of Kashi who blazes like ten million suns, the bestower of liberation, indestructible. Recited on Bhairava Ashtami.
भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम्। कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaकाल भैरव कवच - आरम्भ (अङ्गन्यास)
The opening of the Kala Bhairava Kavacha - the "armour" hymn placing Bhairava’s protection upon the limbs (anga-nyasa). Recited for safeguarding from fear, calamity and untimely death.
ॐ अस्य श्रीकालभैरवकवचस्य, दक्षिणामूर्तिर्ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः, श्रीकालभैरवो देवता। कालभैरवः शिरः पातु, ललाटं भैरवेश्वरः। नेत्रे पातु महाकालः, कर्णौ पातु क्षेत्रपालकः॥
Honor this prayer with action.
Offer a Bhairava sevaAll texts are in the public domain. Recite respectfully; the highest fruit of any mantra is steady, attentive repetition rather than mechanical count.